I also saw a woman recently with persistent breast pain. Her baby had a
diaper rash that looked suspiciously like yeast and mother's breasts were
very red and inflamed. In addition, she had deep cracks from 4-8 at the
base of both nipples.

She had, however, been using Nystatin in baby's mouth and on her breasts
for 10 days and did NOT feel it was thrush.  I referred her to a
dermatologist who prescribed two different creams (actually three, but the
one that had to be removed with mineral oil, she chose not to use). Within
5 days, her cracks are nearly comopletely closed (they healed from the
inside out) and her pain is nearly completely gone.

She credits me with shells to keep breasts dry, not using breast pads
(which were keeping her skin wet) and the creams the derm prescribed. She
did NOT have yeast.

This case just goes to show how much we all can learn from each other and
how one person's skills can complement someone else's.  The creams were a)
antibiotic and b) antiinflammatory.

Am seeing another mother tomorrow whose history (in absence of obsrevation)
suggests that a derm referral may also be appropraite. More on this next
time.



         %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
         %% "We are all faced with a series of great  %%
         %% opportunities brilliantly disguised as    %%
         %% impossible situations" - definition of a  %%
         %% lactation consulting service.             %%
         %% Kathleen G. Auerbach, PhD, IBCLC          %%
         %% [log in to unmask]   Homewood, Illinois USA %%
         %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%